Airline liquid bans to be lifted

Bans limiting the amount of liquid airline passengers can carry as they fly in and out of Britain are expected to be lifted at some airports by the end of the year.

The British Government is preparing to relax its ban on liquids, which limits passengers to carrying 100 millilitre bottles, as it introduces improved X-ray machines at airports.

Scientists in Germany have been carrying out secret tests on new screening technology designed to detect bottles of potentially explosive liquids that could be used to make bombs.

A government source told The Times newspaper today that the new technology would allow the liquid ban to be lifted at a limited number of airports before the end of the year.

“The restrictions will start to be removed in six months to a year’s time and passengers will be allowed to carry any size bottle they like inside their hand luggage, just as they were before the summer of 2006,” the source told the newspaper.

The bans were introduced after police uncovered an alleged British terrorist plot to blow up transatlantic flights in August 2006.

Eight men accused of planning to detonate suicide bombs on seven flights out of London’s Heathrow airport are currently on trial in England.

The ban has meant millions of bottles of duty free alcohol, toiletries and perfume bottles have been confiscated amid confusion among passengers about what they are allowed to carry on board.